Chemical and physical processes combine to make primitive cells
- abiotic synthesis of small organic molecules (amino acids)
- small molecules join together (proteins)
- molecules packaged into primitive cells
- origin of self-replicating molecules
- Early earth had water vapor and simple compounds from volcanic eruptions (CO2, CH4, NH3)
- atmosphere was reducing (now controversial)
- energy from UV or lightning
- oceans = primordial soup of organic molecules